Gemara Clarity

Pesachim 7a

פסחים ז׳ ע״א

Learn Pesachim 7a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 7a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

When ביטול חמץ still works, the moldy loaf on פסח and following the last item (בתר בתרא), and the ברכה on בדיקת חמץ

Overview

The גמרא first asks why we cannot simply do ביטול during the sixth hour of ערב פסח. It answers that once the רבנן forbid the חמץ, it is treated like a Torah prohibition and no longer belongs to the person, so he cannot nullify it. רב's ruling that קידושין made with חמץ from the sixth hour on is not valid supports this. A ברייתא seems to allow ביטול even on יום טוב, but רב אחא בר יעקב explains that it is about dough that has not yet become חמץ. Next, רב rules that a moldy loaf found on פסח is permitted. After a long back-and-forth about following the majority versus following the last item (בתר בתרא), רבה explains that רב means several days of eating מצה have passed. In that case even heavy mold could have formed on מצה. The גמרא then explains why a ברייתא about a coin box follows the majority rather than the last use. Finally, רב יהודה rules that one who does בדיקת חמץ must say a ברכה, and two versions of its wording are given in the name of רבא.

Opening lines

וְנִיבַטְּלֵיהּ בְּשֵׁית!

But let him nullify it in the sixth [hour]!

כֵּיוָן דְּאִיסּוּרָא דְרַבָּנַן עִילָּוֵיהּ —

Since a rabbinic prohibition is upon it,

כִּדְאוֹרָיְיתָא דָּמְיָא,

it is like a Torah [prohibition],

וְלָאו בִּרְשׁוּתֵיהּ קָיְימָא,

and it does not stand in his possession,

The steps (27)

  1. ChallengeWhy not nullify the חמץ in the sixth hour?
  2. ResolutionRabbinic prohibition makes the חמץ no longer his
  3. ProofProof from betrothal with chametz after the sixth hour
  4. ChallengeChallenge from a ברייתא: nullifying on יום טוב
  5. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about dough that is not yet חמץ
  6. ProofThe wording of the ברייתא supports רב אחא בר יעקב
  7. StatementA moldy loaf is permitted when most of the loaves are מצה
  8. QuestionWhat case is רב talking about? Not a loaf known to be חמץ
  9. ChallengeIf the loaf's status is unknown, why do we need a majority of מצה?
  10. ProofA משנה about coins found in ירושלים
  11. ProofEnd of the משנה: coins found in ירושלים
  12. ProofThe streets are swept daily, so found items are new
  13. RejectionMold shows the bread is old
  14. ChallengeIf mold proves it, why does a majority help?
  15. Resolutionרבה: 'more מצה' means many days of מצה
  16. ChallengeThen it is obvious
  17. ResolutionThe case is heavy mold
  18. ResolutionWhy heavy mold does not prove the bread is old
  19. ChallengeDo we really follow the last use? The coin box
  20. ResolutionAnswer 1: He does not know which came last
  21. ResolutionAnswer 2: Separate piles in one box
  22. ResolutionAnswer 3: A coin found in a hole
  23. StatementOne who searches for חמץ must make a ברכה
  24. QuestionWhich words does he say?
  25. ResponseFirst version: ״לבער חמץ״
  26. ResponseSecond version: ״על ביעור חמץ״
  27. StatementEveryone agrees ״לבער״ means the future